Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POC3137: The Politics of Knowledge and Ignorance

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.

Module Aims

To introduce students to key theories of knowledge and how they relate to core political concepts, approaches and debates in the contemporary world.

To enable students to apply these different theoretical/analytical lenses to political issues of interest to them.

To provide students with a challenging provocation about their own assumptions of knowledge

To support students to develop their original proposal.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate knowledge of theoretical work in knowledge politics and critical debates inherent 2. Apply theory to critically analyse contemporary examples of knowledge politics
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Critically analyse theoretical and empirical materials using appropriate theoretical concepts and frameworks. 4. Define complex political problems and identify their relative significance. 5. Exercise informed judgement concerning the practical implications of different standpoints 6. Locate arguments within their historical contexts.
Personal and Key Skills	7. Construct a reasoned and logical argument through well-structured speech and writing 8. Communicate effectively through well-structured speech and writing. 9. Work independently and with peers to achieve common goals.

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Critical Review	1000 words	1-9	Written

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Knowledge Project	100	2750	1-9	Written

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Knowledge Project	Written 2750 words	1-9	August/September re-assessment period

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

Power/Knowledge. Selected writings by Michel Foucault Edited by Colin Gordon

The Politics of Knowledge. Edited by Fernando Domínguez Rubio and Patrick Baert

Epistemic injustice: Power and the ethics of knowing. Miranda Fricker

The Epistemology of Resistance. /Jose Medina

On Colonial Unknowing. Ed Manu Vimalassery et al. Special issue of Theory & Event20 (4) 2017

Decolonisation of Universities: the Politics of Knowledge. Edited by Jonathan D. Jansen

The Politics of Sex Amia Srinivasan